God, I love this stuff. Now I'm gonna spend another hour checking out the links, which will lead to an hour at Wiki, which will lead to an hour at digital comic museum and probably finishing off with some tijuana bibles.

NowhereMon:Clearly there are some cultural references here that are lost to most of us....

Suicide being treated in a light-hearted manner was surprisingly common in a lot of live-action and animated shorts of the era. For example, a Buster Keaton film from a few years earlier features Keaton trying to commit suicide by tying a stone around him and jumping off a bridge only to have his attempt thwarted when the stream below turns out to have only a foot of water. Also, an often-seen gag in animated shorts features a character seeing some outlandish sight and blowing his brains out after commenting, "Now I've seen everything."

I don't know whether it's because audiences more than 70 years ago had a taste for dark humor that we're unaware of or because we're more sensitive now.

NDP2:NowhereMon: Clearly there are some cultural references here that are lost to most of us....

Suicide being treated in a light-hearted manner was surprisingly common in a lot of live-action and animated shorts of the era. For example, a Buster Keaton film from a few years earlier features Keaton trying to commit suicide by tying a stone around him and jumping off a bridge only to have his attempt thwarted when the stream below turns out to have only a foot of water. Also, an often-seen gag in animated shorts features a character seeing some outlandish sight and blowing his brains out after commenting, "Now I've seen everything."

I don't know whether it's because audiences more than 70 years ago had a taste for dark humor that we're unaware of or because we're more sensitive now.

My guess would be that suicide was considered absurd back then. The nation was more overtly non-secular back then, and suicide was still considered an unforgivable sin. There'd be no reason to show respect for those who had committed suicide; after all, God (supposedly) didn't.

TsarTom:God, I love this stuff. Now I'm gonna spend another hour checking out the links, which will lead to an hour at Wiki, which will lead to an hour at digital comic museum and probably finishing off with some tijuana bibles.

In Paranoia Agent, there is a small group of trying to commit suicide, but each of their attempts fails rather humorously...in a grim sort of fashion.

First, the building they try to give themselves CO poisoning is demolished and they run out. Then when they try to jump in front of a train, someone else had the same idea and beat them to the punch, leaving them in shock. Finally, the rope breaks on a noose.

ks1415 My guess would be that suicide was considered absurd back then. The nation was more overtly non-secular back then, and suicide was still considered an unforgivable sin. There'd be no reason to show respect for those who had committed suicide; after all, God (supposedly) didn't.

Suicide is absurd even today.

And I disagree, I don't think religion has anything to do with it.

You have this phenomenon where people seek to end their own life over a very temporary problem. Anyone who's known someone who's committed suicide knows the strangest part is wondering why they did what they did.

So in the realm of fiction you set up a character seeking to commit suicide and it becomes funny to the audience when that person fails. Rather than feeling sympathy for the character's misfortune, you tend to feel relief.

And you have two avenues to go from there - you can have the character snap out of their funk and move on with their lives (but not before stiffing the bike brigade of newsboys out of their $2) or you can have them achieve their goal in the most Rube Goldbergesque way possible, giving the audience "secret" knowledge that can't be shared with the no doubt perplexed person who finds the body in the fictional universe.

ks1415:NDP2: NowhereMon: Clearly there are some cultural references here that are lost to most of us....

Suicide being treated in a light-hearted manner was surprisingly common in a lot of live-action and animated shorts of the era. For example, a Buster Keaton film from a few years earlier features Keaton trying to commit suicide by tying a stone around him and jumping off a bridge only to have his attempt thwarted when the stream below turns out to have only a foot of water. Also, an often-seen gag in animated shorts features a character seeing some outlandish sight and blowing his brains out after commenting, "Now I've seen everything."

I don't know whether it's because audiences more than 70 years ago had a taste for dark humor that we're unaware of or because we're more sensitive now.

My guess would be that suicide was considered absurd back then. The nation was more overtly non-secular back then, and suicide was still considered an unforgivable sin. There'd be no reason to show respect for those who had committed suicide; after all, God (supposedly) didn't.

Ooba Tooba:ks1415: NDP2: NowhereMon: Clearly there are some cultural references here that are lost to most of us....

Suicide being treated in a light-hearted manner was surprisingly common in a lot of live-action and animated shorts of the era. For example, a Buster Keaton film from a few years earlier features Keaton trying to commit suicide by tying a stone around him and jumping off a bridge only to have his attempt thwarted when the stream below turns out to have only a foot of water. Also, an often-seen gag in animated shorts features a character seeing some outlandish sight and blowing his brains out after commenting, "Now I've seen everything."

I don't know whether it's because audiences more than 70 years ago had a taste for dark humor that we're unaware of or because we're more sensitive now.

My guess would be that suicide was considered absurd back then. The nation was more overtly non-secular back then, and suicide was still considered an unforgivable sin. There'd be no reason to show respect for those who had committed suicide; after all, God (supposedly) didn't.

Yeah. Or we're just pussies now.

I'd say it had to do with not considering "imitatable behavior" at the time. Not until the hospital wards were groaning under the weight of Three Stooges related casualties were writers forced to admit that people would do the things they saw on screen.

MoronLessOff:In Paranoia Agent, there is a small group of trying to commit suicide, but each of their attempts fails rather humorously...in a grim sort of fashion.

First, the building they try to give themselves CO poisoning is demolished and they run out. Then when they try to jump in front of a train, someone else had the same idea and beat them to the punch, leaving them in shock. Finally, the rope breaks on a noose.

It's a pretty dark series to begin with.

Yeah that episode gets even darker when you consider the idea that all the people in that group are already dead. Not to mention fact that there's the eager little girl in their group. That's definitely one of the more morbid shows I've watched. But it's a bit of a different case, the Japanese definitely have a different "suicide culture" than we do.

Electrify:Compare this to what is showing on the Disney Channel today. Mickey's comedic take on suicide is vastly more entertaining compared to whatever tween girl crap staring their current piece of jailbait.

SharkTrager:Electrify: Compare this to what is showing on the Disney Channel today. Mickey's comedic take on suicide is vastly more entertaining compared to whatever tween girl crap staring their current piece of jailbait.

MoronLessOff:In Paranoia Agent, there is a small group of trying to commit suicide, but each of their attempts fails rather humorously...in a grim sort of fashion.

First, the building they try to give themselves CO poisoning is demolished and they run out. Then when they try to jump in front of a train, someone else had the same idea and beat them to the punch, leaving them in shock. Finally, the rope breaks on a noose.

It's a pretty dark series to begin with.

Indeed it is. It's also one of the most compelling anime series I've seen in a very long time. It was short compared to most productions(13 episodes) but damn was it riveting.

MusicMakeMyHeadPound:ks1415My guess would be that suicide was considered absurd back then. The nation was more overtly non-secular back then, and suicide was still considered an unforgivable sin. There'd be no reason to show respect for those who had committed suicide; after all, God (supposedly) didn't.

Suicide is absurd even today.

And I disagree, I don't think religion has anything to do with it.

You have this phenomenon where people seek to end their own life over a very temporary problem. Anyone who's known someone who's committed suicide knows the strangest part is wondering why they did what they did.

So in the realm of fiction you set up a character seeking to commit suicide and it becomes funny to the audience when that person fails. Rather than feeling sympathy for the character's misfortune, you tend to feel relief.

And you have two avenues to go from there - you can have the character snap out of their funk and move on with their lives (but not before stiffing the bike brigade of newsboys out of their $2) or you can have them achieve their goal in the most Rube Goldbergesque way possible, giving the audience "secret" knowledge that can't be shared with the no doubt perplexed person who finds the body in the fictional universe.

Do they not teach this in Film & English Literature anymore?

Yes, they taught it at my college. But the professor killed himself before getting to that part of the class.

Apos:MoronLessOff: In Paranoia Agent, there is a small group of trying to commit suicide, but each of their attempts fails rather humorously...in a grim sort of fashion.

First, the building they try to give themselves CO poisoning is demolished and they run out. Then when they try to jump in front of a train, someone else had the same idea and beat them to the punch, leaving them in shock. Finally, the rope breaks on a noose.

It's a pretty dark series to begin with.

Indeed it is. It's also one of the most compelling anime series I've seen in a very long time. It was short compared to most productions(13 episodes) but damn was it riveting.

Thank you,Satoshi Kon.

/Lil Slugger FTFW!

I haven't been able to get into anything new aside from Death Note. Most newer shows are just not that great. I'll rewatch Trigun 100 times before I watch another episode of Bleach.

MoronLessOff:Apos: MoronLessOff: In Paranoia Agent, there is a small group of trying to commit suicide, but each of their attempts fails rather humorously...in a grim sort of fashion.

First, the building they try to give themselves CO poisoning is demolished and they run out. Then when they try to jump in front of a train, someone else had the same idea and beat them to the punch, leaving them in shock. Finally, the rope breaks on a noose.

It's a pretty dark series to begin with.

Indeed it is. It's also one of the most compelling anime series I've seen in a very long time. It was short compared to most productions(13 episodes) but damn was it riveting.

Thank you,Satoshi Kon.

/Lil Slugger FTFW!

I haven't been able to get into anything new aside from Death Note. Most newer shows are just not that great. I'll rewatch Trigun 100 times before I watch another episode of Bleach.

Deadman Wonderland is beginning to grow on me,but Casshern Sins just seems....pointless and boring. As for "Bleach",I'd really hoped that they would have gotten back to the Arrankar/Soul Reaper showdown in Karakura Town by now-which is the ONLY arc I'm interested in-but a few(okay,two) of these mini arcs aren't that bad.

MoronLessOff:Apos: MoronLessOff: In Paranoia Agent, there is a small group of trying to commit suicide, but each of their attempts fails rather humorously...in a grim sort of fashion.

First, the building they try to give themselves CO poisoning is demolished and they run out. Then when they try to jump in front of a train, someone else had the same idea and beat them to the punch, leaving them in shock. Finally, the rope breaks on a noose.

It's a pretty dark series to begin with.

Indeed it is. It's also one of the most compelling anime series I've seen in a very long time. It was short compared to most productions(13 episodes) but damn was it riveting.

Thank you,Satoshi Kon.

/Lil Slugger FTFW!

I haven't been able to get into anything new aside from Death Note. Most newer shows are just not that great. I'll rewatch Trigun 100 times before I watch another episode of Bleach.

Skip Death Note, and watch Paranoia Agent. Death Note is just going to piss you off.

LoneWolf343:MoronLessOff: Apos: MoronLessOff: In Paranoia Agent, there is a small group of trying to commit suicide, but each of their attempts fails rather humorously...in a grim sort of fashion.

First, the building they try to give themselves CO poisoning is demolished and they run out. Then when they try to jump in front of a train, someone else had the same idea and beat them to the punch, leaving them in shock. Finally, the rope breaks on a noose.

It's a pretty dark series to begin with.

Indeed it is. It's also one of the most compelling anime series I've seen in a very long time. It was short compared to most productions(13 episodes) but damn was it riveting.

Thank you,Satoshi Kon.

/Lil Slugger FTFW!

I haven't been able to get into anything new aside from Death Note. Most newer shows are just not that great. I'll rewatch Trigun 100 times before I watch another episode of Bleach.

Skip Death Note, and watch Paranoia Agent. Death Note is just going to piss you off.

Sounds like it could be good. Have you seen Now and Then: Here and There?

It's like a cross between "Blood Plus" and "The Running Man",believe it or not. I've never heard of this "Now and Then: Here and There". Sounds as if the afterlife is a dominant theme. True?

Nope. A sci fi wasteland dominated by a single dictator that uses child soldiers to pillage and search for water. It deals with some pretty heavy stuff. It's probably the most depressing show I've ever seen even though it ends with a (relatively) happy ending.

Sounds like it could be good. Have you seen Now and Then: Here and There?

It's like a cross between "Blood Plus" and "The Running Man",believe it or not. I've never heard of this "Now and Then: Here and There". Sounds as if the afterlife is a dominant theme. True?

Nope. A sci fi wasteland dominated by a single dictator that uses child soldiers to pillage and search for water. It deals with some pretty heavy stuff. It's probably the most depressing show I've ever seen even though it ends with a (relatively) happy ending.

wyltoknow:MoronLessOff: In Paranoia Agent, there is a small group of trying to commit suicide, but each of their attempts fails rather humorously...in a grim sort of fashion.

First, the building they try to give themselves CO poisoning is demolished and they run out. Then when they try to jump in front of a train, someone else had the same idea and beat them to the punch, leaving them in shock. Finally, the rope breaks on a noose.

It's a pretty dark series to begin with.

Yeah that episode gets even darker when you consider the idea that all the people in that group are already dead. Not to mention fact that there's the eager little girl in their group. That's definitely one of the more morbid shows I've watched. But it's a bit of a different case, the Japanese definitely have a different "suicide culture" than we do.

I believe it was said that the episode starts out with them alive, but they do succeed with the carbon monoxide/demolition, or whenever they lose their shadows. That's why they spook Shounen Bat/LIttle Slugger when he shows up to El Ka-bong! someone else. They get comfortable with their new lifestyle, once it's figured out. "Happy Family Planning" indeed